Submissions For York Theatre Company's Noel Coward Prize Now Being Accepted

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces the administration of a new award celebrating musical theatre talent: The Noël Coward Prize.

In honor of the talents of Sir Noël Coward, who often served as the writer/composer/lyricist for his musicals, the York Theatre Company – with the endorsement of the Noël Coward Foundation – will be administering the Noël Coward Prize to a promising librettist/composer/lyricist whose work best exemplifies the “triple threat” standards set by Coward.  The winning artist will receive an honorarium and a special one-night-only staged concert of the musical submitted to the contest produced by The York Theatre Company.

After receiving submissions, an esteemed panel of industry professionals will select the winning entry.  The panel includes Nancy Ford, John Kander, Richard Maltby, Mel Marvin, Brian Murray, Susan H. Schulman, Joseph Stein and Tony Walton.  The winner will be announced November 17, 2009, and will receive the award at a concert celebrating Noël Coward on his birthday, December 17, 2009.

Submission Guidelines:

Only musicals will be considered
Applicant must have written the book, music and lyrics in their entirety for the musical
Musicals must be at least one act (at least 45 minutes in length)
Any rights for the material (if an adaptation) must be received prior to submission; proof of rights must be submitted with the initial application
Submissions will be accepted through Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6 PM

To be considered, please submit the following:

A cover letter introducing yourself
A resume, including complete contact information (phone, address, email address)
Proof of rights (if applicable)
One copy of the following:

A one page synopsis of the musical
The complete script of the musical
Any sheet music for the score
A CD recording of songs (preferably at least half of the songs, in show order)

NCFaPlease note, there is no application fee for the Noël Coward Prize; all administrative costs have been covered by the generous support of the Noël Coward Foundation.

Send all materials to:

Brian Blythe
York Theatre Company
619 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn:  Noël Coward Prize

The Noël Coward Prize is made possible through a generous donation by The Noël Coward Foundation.

The York Theatre Company was nominated for five 2009 Drama Desk Awards, four Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama League Awards for its productions of Enter Laughing, The Musical and My Vaudeville Man! last season.  York Theatre Company is one of the only companies in the city committed to developing and producing new Musical Theatre Works and rediscovering musical gems from the past. Winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre, York’s intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike for almost four decades.  Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series—most of them world, American or New York premieres—by some of the field’s most esteemed creators and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers.

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